Former Ambassador of Albania and North Macedonia Christopher Hill said he was convinced that there could not be a “whole, united and free Europe without the involvement of the Western Balkans”.
The US diplomat made this statement during the ‘Peace Summit for Southeast Europe’ being held in Tirana.
Hill focused on the EU refusal to open accession negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia on October 17-18, stressing that frustration was being felt. But he is optimistic that all Western Balkan countries aspiring to be part of a united Europe will one day realize their goals.
” The Balkans are trying to be part of something better that is a united Europe, a Europe that is complete, free, prosperous, Personally, I have worked in this region for many years and I feel this frustration myself and I think it is important that people understand that the way forward is open and still passable. But anyway, there will be problems, there will be twists and turns ahead. The problematic issue is not celebrating the challenges but rather understanding the fact that our job is to overcome the challenges. I am very convinced that this journey that the peoples of the Western Balkan countries have started, is a journey that has helped these peoples in difficult times until their goals are met. There is no doubt that there will be no truly free Europe without the unification of the Western Balkans, ”Cristopher Hill was quoted as saying.
In the wake of his statement, the US diplomat warns that EU standards must begin to be implemented by now.
” Do not start applying the principles of the European Union when you become a member. Start with these standards now, this is a mindset that has also worked with NATO, in the case of Albania since 1991, if I had stood in front of an audience I’d say it’s too soon to be a NATO member, I don’t think many of the audience would have trusted me. But look at the tremendous progress that Albania has made and how North Macedonia has succeeded, and the answer is that they have instituted reforms, either in the military or in changing the mindset of the military so that there is co-operation between NATO member states. I think this is very clear and this should not be slowed down by any of the challenges that lie ahead, ”concluded former Ambassador Christopher Hill at the Southeast Europe Peace Summit in Tirana.
/Klara Ruci/